INCONVENIENT FACTOID OF THE DAY:
Bad Gov. Romney, in another of his “hit and runs”
managed to even raise taxes on New Hampshire residents
while Gov. of Massachusetts.
Believe it or not.
Posted on 08/12/2011 3:29:40 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
As a presidential candidate, Republican Mitt Romney says he opposes revenue-boosting tax increases. But back when he was Massachusetts' governor, he bragged about them.
The Romney administration in 2004 and 2005 quietly highlighted the state's recent tax and fee hikes as part of an effort to persuade the financial rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings to improve the state's bond ratings.
The administration's bullet-point presentations to the agencies, made public through freedom of information requests, sought to make the case that Massachusetts had "acted decisively" to address the state's fiscal problems with a combination of streamlining, belt-tightening budget cuts, and revenue enhancements. The enhancements included closing "tax loopholes" that would add "$269 million in additional recurring revenue" to state coffers, along with $271 million in increased fees, according to copies of the presentations. They also referred to 2002 tax increase approved before Romney took office.
(snip)
"When I was governor," Romney said in a statement Monday, "S&P rewarded Massachusetts with a credit rating upgrade for our sound fiscal management and the underlying strength of our economy. That didn't happen by accident."
(snip)
"The key point here is that Governor Romney never signed a tax increase into law," said campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul. She insisted fee hikes are not the same as tax hikes.
(snip)
A question left unanswered by the Politico report is whether Romney was in the room for the presentations to the rating agencies.
(snip)
Romney communication director Gail Gitcho declined to discuss the difference between higher taxes and higher fees. "I'm not playing pop quiz," she said. "He has never supported a tax increase, never signed one into law."
(Excerpt) Read more at deseretnews.com ...
Bad Gov. Romney, in another of his “hit and runs”
managed to even raise taxes on New Hampshire residents
while Gov. of Massachusetts.
Believe it or not.
Placemarker to find link to what a scumbag Romney is.
Go away, Willard.
We all know that it’s Romney’s “turn” for the GOP nomination... egawds! This proposes a huge problem for us FReepers. If we don’t vote for this jacka$$, the other jacka$$ gets re-elected.
I think I’m gonna be ill...
FOX News has been pushing him and Newt all day long. Looks like the DEMs are really hitting their polls hard. Then again FOX is Beltway RINO Central.
I don't think "O" will likely make it through the primaries. The very fringe left of the DEM Party may be enjoying it but DEMs I know are not happy campers. The DEM Party for the first time in years will have several serious contenders aiming for a sitting Dem POTUS seat in his reelection bid. Watch for a sudden resignation in the Cabinet within the next few months also. Hillary is being way too quiet for some reason. Remember what cards she holds. I would not write her off for 2012 right now. Bidden? Nope he's going the same way out as Gore. Meaning the POTUS he served as VP will tarnish any future chances much like Humphrey was with Johnson.
Every governor can be accused of raising rates or fees or taxes or assessments. I think even Reagan was spoken about in such terms.
There is a rabid anti-Mitt Romney movement here, I know. I did support him over McCain in my primary, though right now I have not committed to him or ANY declared candidate yet.
My point is not to defend MR, but to merely point out governing a state has Tenth amendment freedoms a federal officer should not violate.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the last debate was the vigorous back and forth over the Tenth. I told my SO, one cannot imagine that type of discussion going on among Demonrats!
What happens to employees who don’t have health insurance?
As of July 1, 2007:
* With few exceptions, Massachusetts residents age 18 and older must carry health insurance that meets the minimum standards set by the Health Connector. This is known as the “Individual Mandate.”
* Adults who cannot afford a plan that meets Health Connector standards can apply to the Health Connector for a waiver.
* Those who do not get insurance or a waiver by December 31, 2007 will lose their state personal income tax exemption when filing their 2007 state personal income taxes.
* If their religion does not allow them to carry health insurance, they can file a statement with their state tax return.
* In 2008, the penalties on adults who do not carry health insurance will grow significantly. Uninsured adults will be fined 1/2 of the monthly premium cost of the most affordable health plan available to them, as certified by the Health Connector.
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How is the Individual Mandate enforced?
By the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, through the process of collecting state income taxes.
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